[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 24 (Monday, February 7, 2022)]
[Senate]
[Page S547]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




          STATEMENTS ON INTRODUCED BILLS AND JOINT RESOLUTIONS

      By Mr. THUNE (for himself, Ms. Smith, Mr. Wicker, and Mr. Casey):
  S. 3587. A bill to modify conditions of funding for the distance 
learning, telemedicine, and broadband program of the Rural Utilities 
Service, and for other purposes; to the Committee on Agriculture, 
Nutrition, and Forestry.
  Mr. THUNE. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the text of 
the bill be printed in the Record.
  There being no objection, the text of the bill was ordered to be 
printed in the Record, as follows:

                                S. 3587

       Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
     the United States of America in Congress assembled,

     SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

       This Act may be cited as the ``Connect Unserved Americans 
     Act of 2022''.

     SEC. 2. DISTANCE LEARNING, TELEMEDICINE, AND BROADBAND 
                   PROGRAM.

       The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (Public Law 117-
     58) is amended in the third proviso under the heading 
     ``distance learning, telemedicine, and broadband program'' 
     under the heading ``Rural Utilities Service'' under the 
     heading ``RURAL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS'' under the heading 
     ``DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE'' in title I of division J by 
     striking ``50 percent'' and inserting ``80 percent''.

     SEC. 3. COORDINATION WITH TREASURY DEPARTMENT ON DISTRIBUTION 
                   OF BROADBAND DEPLOYMENT FUNDS.

       (a) In General.--Section 904(b) of division FF of the 
     Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 (47 U.S.C. 1308(b)) is 
     amended--
       (1) in paragraph (1)(A)--
       (A) in clause (ii), by striking ``and'' at the end; and
       (B) by adding at the end the following:
       ``(iv) the Department of the Treasury; and''; and
       (2) in paragraph (2)--
       (A) in subparagraph (B), by striking ``and'' at the end;
       (B) in subparagraph (C), by striking the period at the end 
     and inserting ``; and''; and
       (C) by adding at the end the following:
       ``(D) the programs administered by the Department of the 
     Treasury.''.
       (b) Deadline.--Not later than 30 days after the date of 
     enactment of this Act, the covered agencies (as defined in 
     section 904(b) of division FF of the Consolidated 
     Appropriations Act, 2021 (47 U.S.C. 1308(b)), as amended by 
     subsection (a) of this section) shall implement the 
     amendments made by subsection (a) of this section.

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